Coming off the program’s first state championship, the Loveland Classical girls soccer team is confident going into the 2026 season that it can duplicate what it did a year ago.
With that confidence, however, comes caution as the team doesn’t want to get ahead of itself while believing it has everything it needs to win a second straight championship.
“I think there’s definitely a lot of confidence but also caution in the sense of not getting too far ahead of ourselves and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’ve already done this before,’ but understanding that we still need to put the training and hard work in, ” Classical senior Juliana Beernink said.
For a team that had never advanced past the second round of the playoffs, last season’s run was unprecedented. The Lions went 16-3 overall, 6-0 in the 3A/2A Foothills League and won three close postseason games before reaching the 2A championship contest.
There, they defeated Flatirons Academy 3-0 for not only the program’s first state title, but the first for the school in any sport. It was also the first state championship for any boys or girls soccer team in Loveland.
Except for one player, the Lions are all back and have even added some reinforcements. Emily Carman, who was named the Class 2A player of the year by CHSAA, was the only senior on last year’s team.
This year’s squad has 10 seniors, including four who earned all-state recognition: first-team selection Abby Ruppert; second-team selections Melanie Bale and Beernink; and honorable mention recipient Kaelyn Doan.
“We have quite a few seniors,” Classical head coach Juan Orozco said. “I think it’s going to be a really, really strong attack with Abby, Kaelyn and some of the juniors that have been working hard through their clubs and in the offseason. I think we’ll have another really solid opportunity to go to the playoffs.”
Ruppert led the team in goals last season (26) and assists (12). Doan was second on the squad with 20 goals and 10 assists. The Lions averaged five goals per game a year ago.
A lack of experience won’t be an issue for this year’s team.
“It’s a huge advantage,” Ruppert said of the experience. “I think the main thing, for me, is that we did it as a team and we are all coming back. We have our keeper coming back. We have our defensive line coming back. We have our midfielders, strikers. So, we have so much potential. And we have a deep bench too. I think we have a lot of players that will contribute.”
That returning keeper is senior Keira Doan, who made 79 saves and had six shutouts to go along with a 1.6 goals-against average.
Having her back as the last line of defense with the experience she has will be a big asset to this year’s team.
“It definitely gives us a lot of confidence,” Orozco said. “With her stature and knowledge about the game and directing the team when we really need it the most, I think it gives us an excellent confidence point that we can continue to use. We can rely on her to do it again this year.”
The team is already miles ahead of where it was at the beginning of last season. The Lions had made a habit of making the playoffs but hadn’t experienced anything like the run they had.
It is a testament to not only the chemistry the team already has but the desire to put everything back together for another run at a championship.
“I think it’s pretty exciting,” Ruppert said. “It’s obviously a great way to start off, knowing that we have the capability to come right back and win it again. I think we’re going to use the win to fuel us to want to win it again. I think we’re really excited.”
The team knows it has a target on its back, and that is fine with the players.
Their state championship banner hangs on a chain-link fence that runs along one side of their field as a reminder to them and their opponents of what they accomplished last year and what their goal is this season.
“I know we are definitely going to have a target on our back and it’s going to be a mixture of, ‘Yes, we’ve got this,’ and ‘Oh my gosh, people are really going to want this,'” Beernink said. “Even after we had our league scrimmages, and just seeing some of the new excitements of the teams we were playing against, it definitely felt more competitive and exciting. But, definitely a bit of a target on our back and a little bit of pressure because it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, we did it last year.'”
The Lions have already picked up where they left off last year. They won their season opener against Wellington on Thursday, 4-0.
Loveland Red Wolves
Head Coach: Levi Gray (First season)
Last year: 3-12 overall, 1-5 Northern League
Top returners: Makenna Bruno (Stkr, Jr.), Aby Machado (Stkr, Sr.), Addie Jackson (Mid, Sr.), Addy Frahm (Mid, Sr.), Norah Patella (Mid, Jr.), Abby Reiss (Def, Sr.), Piper Bentley (Def, Jr.), Braylee Nelson (Def, Jr.), Reagan Pol (GK, Jr.).
Others to watch: Berkley Henry (Mid, Fr.), Lea Gladson (Def, So.), Emmy Frahm (Mid, So.).
Coach’s outlook: “We are excited to revamp this program into something brand new, and compete at a higher level than we have in years past. We have a lot of experienced players, and plan on being very competitive this season. Our kids are hungry for success, and I hope to bring the same success I’ve had in years past in Indiana/Kentucky here at Loveland High. I took this job to turn this program around and be competitive, and that’s what our plan is. We have a core of upperclassmen that will make some noise, but we also have a promising freshman class that will hopefully compete at the same high level.”
Thompson Valley Eagles
Head coach: Randy Chase (Ninth season)
Last year: 10-5-1 overall, 7-0-1 Longs Peak League, lost in first round of 4A playoffs
Top returners: Elena Montoya (Fwd, So.), Jesika Hopkins (Fwd, Sr.), Ava Gow (Mid, Sr.), Chloe Reese (Mid/Def, Sr.), Claire Pierson (CB, Jr.), Kathryn Cox (CB, Jr.) Hayden Ramberg (OB, So.), Riley Darcy (OB, So.), Ellen Harting (Mid, Sr.)
Others to watch: Dany Alps (GK, Sr.), Chloe Villeneuve (Mid, Fr.), Nalley Rivas Sexton (Mid, Fr.)
Coach’s outlook: “TVHS has a strong team this season with a dynamic group of players that bring unique skill sets that complement each other. We will focus on a strong team bond and very hard work to push us to success. We will be in the hunt for a third conference championship after obtaining second last year by a one goal differential in the tiebreaker. We will also be focused deeply on winning the state 4A championship, something that no soccer team girls or boys has yet achieved in the entire Thompson School District. Good luck to everyone and we look forward to a lot of fun and good competition.”
Mountain View Mountain Lions
Head coach: Rimini Hickey (Second season)
Last year: 11-5 overall, 6-2 4A Longs Peak League, lost in first round of 4A playoffs
Top returners: Addi Gaberik (Mid, Sr.), Teagan Bauer (Def, Sr.), Kume Smith (Def, Jr.), Hailey Niswender (Mid, Jr), McKayla Bradley (Fwd, Jr.), Kenedie Brown (Mid, So.), Avery Rolph (Def, So.)
Others to watch: Whitney Huang (Def, Jr.), Avery Goldman (GK, Jr.), Bella Diaz de Lion (Fwd, Jr,), Riley Lamar (Fwd, Fr.), Scarlett Marquez (Def, Fr.), Aidyn Chase (Def/Mid, Fr.)
Coach’s outlook: “With growth comes opportunity to create a competitive environment at all levels. Every player is improving, and every player is getting the opportunity to contribute to the soccer program.”
Berthoud Spartans
Head coach: Kylee Dunham (First season)
Last year: 5-7-3 overall, 2-3-3 Longs Peak League
Top returners: Lydia Okiyama (Fwd, Sr.), Emily Rogers (Def, Sr.), Bella Trujillo (Mid, Sr.), Olivia Guerrero (Mid, Sr), Miya Tejeda (Def. Sr.) Elliana Goll (Def, Jr.), Alyssa Hulme (Def, Jr.), Abigail Rogers (Def, Jr.), Amelia Byron (Mid, So.), Stella Neiswander (Def, So.), Aubrey Clopper (Mid, So.)
Others to watch: Madison Ott (Fwd, So.), Helen Ingham (Def, Jr.), Emery Grimditch (Mid, Jr.), Madison Sokol (Def, Jr.), Susan Macaluso (Def, Fr.)
Coach’s outlook: “We are very excited to have a special group of girls this year, who are eager to continue to build off of last season and are working hard to reach the secure spot of a playoff position. With a new coaching staff and a mix of returning players and new players, the girls are quickly building a dynamic foundation and bonding as a team. The returning players bring an awesome aspect of integrity and leadership to the Lady Spartans program. We have a strong core of seniors, with Lydia Okiyama returning and bringing her creativity to the offensive front and Miya Tejeda in holding down the center back role, the Berthoud Spartans are looking to strive and utilize multiple key players in multiple positions.
